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NATURE AND MEANING OF DEVIANT BEHAVIORDeviant behavior is a form of behavior which goes beyond the expected or approved behavior of the group. It is a behavior which maybe be tolerated, approved or disapproved by the group. What is considered deviant in one society may not be considered as such in another. What is deviant in a particular society at a particular place and time may not be considered as deviant at a future time. THEORIES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

1. SOCIAL PATHOLOGY – explains that deviant behavior is caused by actual physical and mental illness, malfunctions or deformities.Solutions: Education, re-education, hospitalization, rehabilitation, imprisonment, capital punishment. 2. BIOLOGICAL THEORY – relates that behavior is a result of genetic aberrations. Cesare Lombroso – an Italian criminologist who studied the skulls and bodies of many prisoners, reported that there are “animalistic” physical patterns found in criminals, savages and apes; that people with enormous jaws, high cheekbones, and prominent superciliary arches – are born criminals. Charles Goring – a British physician, who found no differences between criminals and ordinary citizens. Witkin (1976) – found that prisoners with an XYY chromosome pattern or with an extra Y chromosome (a normal man has an XY chromosome pattern) might predispose themselves to deviance. Danish study – the researchers speculated that men with an extra Y chromosome are less intelligent and easier for the police to catch. Solutions: Education, re-education, hospitalization, rehabilitation, imprisonment, capital punishment, and behavior modification. 3. PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY – relates that behavior is brought about by inner tensions or inability to control one’s impulses and failure to structure one’s behavior in an ordinary way. Solutions: Psychiatry, psychological counseling, hospitalization, and rehabilitation; shock therapy. 4. SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY – believes that deviant behavior as caused by the breakdown of norms, laws, mores, and other important values of society. Solutions: Modification or rehabilitation in the part of the system which suffers from disorganization. 5. LABELING THEORY – society’s labeling on behaviors as deviant causes deviant behavior. Behaviors are labeled or tagged as proper or improper, moral or immoral, good or bad. Behaviors which transgress the social norms and values are labeled or socially defined deviant; they are, in turn, sanctioned by ostracism or punishment. Solutions: Relabeling and delabeling certain people as “criminals”, “prostitutes”, “homosexuals”, “schizophrenic”, etc. once considered as deviant. 6. LABELING THEORY – society’s labeling on behaviors as deviant causes deviant behavior. Behaviors are labeled or tagged as proper or improper, moral or immoral, good or bad. Behaviors which transgress the social norms and values are labeled or socially defined deviant; they are, in turn, sanctioned by ostracism or punishment. Solutions: Relabeling and delabeling certain people as “criminals”, “prostitutes”, “homosexuals”, “schizophrenic”, etc. once considered as deviant. 7. ANOMIE THEORY OR STRUCTURAL STRESS THEORY – posits that deviance exists when people are denied access to accepted means to reach approved goals.Durkheim – introduced the concept of “anomie” as a condition within society in which individuals find that the prevailing social norms are ill-defined, weak, or conflicting. For example, many people expect to have a job, but the economy may not provide enough jobs for everybody. Thus, a jobless job – seeker may resort to illegitimate or illegal means to achieve his goals. Solutions: Giving access to approved goals; equal opportunity for all.8. 8. CONFLICT THEORY – states that deviant behavior is caused by an unjust social structure where unequal distribution of wealth and power exists. Solutions: The moderates propose more reforms in the various social institutions; the radicals...